asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give consideration to the problems of hop and fruit growers before introducing detailed and universal regulations relating to tractor cabs.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why applications for grants under the present Farm Improvement Scheme can no longer be accepted.

Because the money provided by existing legislation is virtually all committed. But the Agriculture Bill provides for an extended Farm Improvement Scheme and in the meantime farmers can start work with the written agreement of the Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reply he has received from the White Fish Authority to his offer to consider a statutory minimum pricing scheme for white fish.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 11th May to the hon. Member for Haltemprice(Mr. Wall).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the implementation of international fisheries agreements on mesh sizes, &c.

The United Kingdom is a member of the two international commissions concerned with the conservation of fish stocks in the North Atlantic—the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission and the International Commission for the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries. These Commissioners prescribe minimum mesh sizes for nets and minimum size limits for fish which may be landed.The implementation of these measures at present depends on their enforcement by each country on its own fishing vessels, but the United Kingdom has been taking an active part in discussions to work out a system of international inspection outside national fishery limits.Considerable progress has been made, and a special meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission is being held later in the year, when it is hoped to reach agreement on the details of a scheme to be introduced at an early date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the Ministers concerned have now reached a conclusion on paragraph 43 of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the Brewing Industry; and if he will make a statement.

No. But the question of an inquiry is under urgent consideration by the Ministers concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for revising the figures of agricultural manpower contained in the National Plan on account of the Selective Employment Tax.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that home pig producers will be able to fulfil their share of the bacon sharing agreement in 1966; and if he will make a statement.

The new bacon year began only in April. I cannot now forecast how home production in the year will compare with the minimum allocation to the United Kingdom or with total supplies to the market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that within hours of the commencement of the seamen's strike prices of various foodstuffs were increased by the wholesalers; and what action he proposes to take to provide food supplies at prices ruling before the strike.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Prime Minister's statement on Monday. Voluntary co-operation has so far worked well and we wish to rely on that as far as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the outcome of the investigation he conducted into the recent fall in the totals of houses completed, houses started and tenders approved; what steps are being taken to remedy this state of affairs; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

My hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is meeting conveners of local authority housing committees this week to identify the difficulties which are impeding progress by these authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why an English bull licence is not valid in Scotland; and if he will now arrange for English licences to be accepted North of the Border.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet made arrangements with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whereby beef bred bull licences issued in either England or Scotland are valid in either country.

The Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act 1931 requires licences for bulls kept in Scotland to be granted by the Secretary of State and for bulls kept in England and Wales by the Minister of Agriculture. My right hon. Friend is, however, considering whether it would be possible to issue a Scottish licence automatically in respect of a bull already licensed in England which is transferred to Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to enable local planning authorities to override ancient feu restrictions and prohibitions where these are in conflict with the public good.

When I receive the Report of the Halliday Committee on Conveyancing Legislation and Practice I intend to make a detailed examination of the whole subject of feudal restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps, in consultation with the corporation of Glasgow, to make the collection of pictures, sculpture, tapestries and silver, given by the late Sir William Burrell to the City of Glasgow in 1944 but at present stored in crates in various buildings in that city, available to public view.

As my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State stated on 11th May when the House was debating this subject, discussions about housing the Burrell Collection on the Pollock Estate are progressing favourably. The matter is, in the first instance, one for the particular bodies concerned in the discussions but I am very much interested in a successful outcome to them and will be ready to help whenever this is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the growing need for an adequate conference centre with translation facilities to attract European conferences; and if he will consult the Tourist Board, the local authorities, and other appropriate bodies, with a view to taking steps to establish such a centre.

I would welcome any proposals designed to expand conference facilities in Scotland, and the Scottish Tourist Board assures me that it will lose no opportunity of encouraging the production of promising schemes by local authorities and interested commercial developers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that the building alterations and increased personnel at Glasgow sheriff courts will effectively overcome the congested conditions and arrears of cases; and if he will make a statement.

The arrears of cases have been substantially reduced and the interval between pleading and trial diet in summary criminal cases has been shortened.Alterations to the courthouse to provide additional court and office accommodation are in progress. Any inconvenience to persons having business in the courts is regretted; the work will however be completed shortly.These are interim measures only, and the Court House Commissioners are proceeding with their plans for building a new courthouse.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the reorganisation of police forces in Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 23rd May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to amalgamate police forces in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 23rd May

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average tender price of local authority four-apartment houses for each of the years from 1945 to 1965; what was the average floor area of these houses; and what was the cost per square foot of superficial floor area.

The following table gives such information as is available. Information on average floor areas and hence on the cost per square foot is not available for the years prior to 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will make an estimate of the effect of the opening of the Tay Road Bridge on traffic densities on the A92, Stonehaven to Dundee, and on the A94, Stonehaven to Perth.

I prefer now to arrange for assessments to be made of the actual effect of the opening of the bridge, and this I am doing.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will lay a White Paper before the House setting forth the results of his discussions with Mr. McNamara and other representatives of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Powers concerning the use of nuclear weapons in Europe.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will present a periodical report to Parliament on the activities of the defence sales unit.

Yes. In the annual Statement on the Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will investigate the various forms of closed-circuit television with a view to providing a service of British television for the forces in certain British garrisons in the British Army of the Rhine; and if he will make a statement.

A number of possibilities have been investigated, but no system has so far been found that would overcome the technical difficulties at a reasonable cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what other aircraft, other than the F111A, are to be paid for out of the £430 million loan for supply of aircraft from the United States of America; what is their purpose; and what is their cost.

As to the types and cost of aircraft to be purchased under the loan arrangement, I would refer my hon. Friend to the speech made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation on 17th May (HANSARD, Col. 1179). The purposes for which these aircraft are being acquired were summarised in paragraphs 7, 14 and 16 of Chapter III of Part I of Cmnd. 2901.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a list of the United States firms that have contracts with his Department; what they supply; and what are the costs.

For the items involved, I would refer the hon. Member to the list in my written reply to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden) on 16th February, 1966, to which the F I 11A should now be added. It would not be in the public interest to give details of individual contracts but the total dollar cost of outstanding commitments is between £800 million and £850 million if one ignores offsets.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the duties of the arms salesman include the sales of armaments to China and Formosa.

Not at all.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the newly appointed head of arms sales will co-operate with similar officials employed by the United Kingdom's North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies.

To the extent that collaborative sales agreements are negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action is proposed to reduce expenditure by coordinating certain trades in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Army.

We are studying trade structures and training in the context of possible changes in defence management and administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is permitted to operate in Indonesia in the same way as in other foreign fields; whether he is satisfied with the condition of the British war graves in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission enjoys full recognition in Indonesia and the Commission has excellent relations with the Indonesian authorities.Djakarta War Cemetery is maintained at a high standard by the Commission's staff. At Ambon War Cemetery structural work has been delayed over the last 18 months, but should soon be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future employment of Territorial Army bands, and, in particular, on the future of the Band of the Sussex Yeomanry, Royal Artillery, Territorial Army, 257 Regiment.

I am still considering this matter; I hope to reach a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the regulations for the conduct of naval courts martial allow for the prosecutor taking part in conversations with the president and other members of the court immediately before the trial begins.

There is no regulation to cover this point, nor is one needed. The practice is for the prosecutor to keep to his room until the court has assembled, and then to proceed direct into court.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval courts martial have taken place since 1950 where the judge advocate was not a qualified barrister, and how many were the judge advocate was both junior in rank to, and was at the time employed as a subordinate in the office of, the officer discharging the duties of prosecutor.

To give a comprehensive reply to this question would involve a great deal of time and effort, including the search of all the court martial files and the personal files of the judge advocates, and I do not think this would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the current Admiralty Memorandum on Naval Court Martial Procedure specifies that in the case of both ratings and commissioned officers a preliminary investigation should always be held; and what was the corresponding situation in April, 1956.

No. The Admiralty Memorandum draws attention to the Queen's Regulations ordering formal preliminary investigations in the case of ratings. It is not in itself any authority for saying that a preliminary investigation should or should not be held in the case of officers. The position was no different in April, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval courts martial have been held since 1950 in which the accused were commissioned officers; and what number in each year took place without a preliminary investigation.

429. There is no record of the number preceded by a preliminary investigation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he experts to make his decision concerning the pay scales for naval ordnance inspect-in a officers.

New scales have been decided and will be paid with elect from 1st April, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reduction in the labour force of skilled or unskilled labour is planned at the Barnbow, Leeds, ordnance factory; and what is the present number of those employed in their various skilled or unskilled categories.

No reduction in the labour force is planned.At 1st April, 1966, the number of industrial employees was 1,316, comprising 658 skilled and 561 non-skilled employees and 97 apprentices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what organisational machinery exists to ensure that no Government-controlled ordnance factory employs more labour, skilled or unskilled, than necessary; how reviews are made; and how frequently.

Apart from Estimates control, ordnance factories are fully costed on commercial principles, and the labour costs of each factory are scrutinised every quarter.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will direct the Greater London Council to ensure sufficient traffic control in the narrow streets near the new Post Office Tower.

No. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that efficient traffic control here can be left to the Greater London Council and the police who are closely watching the situation.

asked the Minister of Transport on what grounds she proposes to increase the speed limit of 30 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour at Southgate Avenue, Crawley, in view of the danger to children attending school.

There is a crossing patrol at the primary school. On the evidence so far available, my right hon. Friend is inclined to think that a limit of 40 m.p.h. would be appropriate for Southgate Avenue, but before she reaches a decision she will consider the objections which have been received.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date she will make the registration of qualified driving instructors compulsory.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answer given on 4th May to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) and the hon. Member for Essex, South-East (Mr. Braine).

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that the problem of vehicles abandoned on the highway is increasing and that many urban authorities do not have facilities to store abandoned vehicles for six weeks; and whether she will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to dispose of, within seven days, vehicles that appear to be abandoned and do not display a road fund licence.

My Department is in constant touch with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. Inevitably it is difficult to find enough storage space in some towns, but there has recently been encouraging progress in dealing with this problem.Failure to display a licence does not establish that a vehicle has been abandoned; however, my hon. Friend's proposal will be considered.

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish her White Paper on Transport Policy.

As soon as I can.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the discussions with the Motor Insurance Bureau with regard to claims for damages suffered as a result of negligent driving; whether the Bureau will now give reasons where payments are not made under Note 6; and whether some machinery of appeal will now be instituted against decisions by the Bureau.

Some common ground has emerged from discussions trying to achieve the broad objectives suggested by my hon. and learned Friend. My right hon. Friend cannot yet make an announcement. but will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will take steps to include the examination of tyres in the compulsory testing of cars.

Yes. My right hon. Friend intends to circulate proposals soon, for amendments of the Construction and Use Regulations to lay down more precise requirements on the condition of tyres used on vehicles. The amended regulations will provide a basis for including inspection of tyres in the test.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will now seek to amend the law in order to allow a person to accompany a pedestrian-controlled electric pushchair without having to be in possession of a current driving licence.

My right hon. Friend is in sympathy with my hon. Friend's proposal and is considering exempting these vehicles from a number of requirements under the Road Traffic Acts, including the need for driving licences.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will take steps to obtain and publish figures to show the proportion of drivers who are involved in an accident in the first year after they have passed their driving test.

It would require a special survey of considerable size to obtain this information and my right hon. Friend does not think it would be so valuable as to justify taking the place of work already planned. The evidence already indicates that the risk of having a road accident falls with experience.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the progress made up to date in the provision of a deep water harbour in Aberdeen, to which Her Majesty's Government are contributing; and when the work will be completed.

Completion of the new deep water berth being constructed by the Aberdeen Harbour Board has been slightly delayed but it is expected to be ready for use in September.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction to the Docks and Harbours Board that they should continue to allow part-time fishermen to operate from harbours controlled by the Board.

No. This is neither necessary nor appropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a general direction, in the public interest, to the British Railways Board to provide a railway halt at all airports where railway facilities exist, but where there is no station, in order to allow passengers to travel more easily to the air terminal and in view of the increase in air passenger travel.

No. Such matters are for the Railways Board to consider on merit.

asked the Minister of Transport what applications she has received from the Railways Board for approval of capital expenditure to bring about the opening of a regular direct electrical passenger and freight railway service from Stoke-on-Trent to London; and what decisions she has reached.

The £175 million London-Midland electrification scheme, the main part of which has already been completed, includes the electrification of the Cheadle Hulme-Colwich line via Stoke-on-Trent. Regular electric passenger services are expected to start operating between Stoke and London in March, 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will call for a report from the appropriate transport users' consultative committee on the reasons why they refused to hear evidence from the Provost of Forres Town Council on the closure of the Forres-Aviemore line.

No. The procedure of Transport Users Consultative Committees is a matter for the Committees themselves in accordance with Section 56 of the Transport Act 1962. I understand, however, that there is no record of the then Provost having offered oral evidence at the hearing. I also understand that an authorised representative of Forres Town Council did give oral evidence.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the reconstruction of the A19 road in the County of Durham.

Work on the Wolviston to Sheraton section is well in hand and the southbound carriageway to Gunners-vale Garage is open to traffic. Work is expected to start on the Sheraton crossroads scheme soon, and on the Wolviston by-pass early next year.Work has started on the Sheraton Hill to Eden Vale section. Preparatory work for the other improvements northwards is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will arrange for a pedestrian crossing to be installed on the Leeds-Otley road near the junction of Church Wood Avenue, Leeds.

This is a matter for the Leeds County Borough Council in the first place, and they have not applied for a pedestrian crossing here. On the evidence received, my right hon. Friend does not think that a crossing would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will arrange for the installation of a pedestrian crossing between the Kirkstall Abbey House Museum and Kirkstall Abbey on the main trunk road at Kirkstall in the City of Leeds.

This is not a trunk road. A pedestrian crossing would be a matter for the Leeds County Borough Council in the first place, but it has not applied for one. A major improvement scheme is being carried out which will make it easier and safer for pedestrians to cross the road.

asked the Minister of Transport when the Witton-le-Wear by-pass, proposed by Durham County Council for the A68 road, will be included in the roads programme.

The by-pass will be considered for inclusion in future extensions of the classified road programme, but no date can yet be given.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has received the result of the analysis of traffic on the A6 at Rushden, Northamptonshire; and if she has reached a decision regarding the proposed by-pass.

My right hon. Friend is now studying the traffic analysis and it is being taken into account in formulating plans for inter-urban trunk roads in the 70s. Meanwhile, the route of the bypass shown on the Town Map must continue to be protected

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware that the approach road from Staines Bridge to the M4 and London Airport is not adequately signalled; and if she will arrange for this to be done.

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the signing of the approach roads. My right hon. Friend considers that the arrangements are adequate. If, however, the hon. Member wishes to bring any particular point to her attention she will have it examined.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) on the basis of other motorway experience and present traffic volume, what is the estimated number of persons killed and injured each year whose deaths and injuries would be prevented by the provision of a Broughton to Blackpool motorway link;(2) if she will give the numbers of killed and injured persons in each of the last five years on the Garstang—Blackpool A586 road and on the Preston—Blackpool A583 road.

The accident details for the last five years are as follows:

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider his refusal to provide an additional public telephone kiosk in the village of Tongwynlais, near Cardiff, in order to cater for the needs of the residents who live furthest from the existing public kiosk, and for the needs of those who live in the area of the Green-meadow Estate.

As my right hon. Friend has explained to the hon. Member in correspondence the current loss of over £4 million a year on the public telephone service means that he cannot provide as many additional new kiosks as he would wish. I am however having the particular case of another kiosk at Tongwynlais re-examined and I will write to the hon. Member when I have completed my inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to reduce or eliminate the interference with television reception caused by vehicles without suppressors.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Grinstead (Mr. G. Johnson-Smith) on this subject yesterday.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he put forward during his official discussions with those interested in the promotion of screening the world heavyweight boxing match, for the live screening of this match on Eurovision, and with what success; and whether he will make a statement.

The purpose of the meeting was to bring together all the various parties interested in the promotion or presentation of the match, and so to try to create the conditions in which they could themselves resolve their differences.

asked the Postmaster-General by how much the staff working under the Brighton Post Office has been increased over the last three years; and how this compares with the increase in the population served.

Taking Brighton and Hove together, the postal and telegraph staff decreased from 908 to 906 over the last three years. Population figures for this period are not available, but I understand that between 1962 and 1964 the population in this area increased from 234,200 to 235,400.

asked the Postmaster-General what protection he will give the residents of Brighton against mistakes made by the Brighton Post Office; and if he will appoint a public relations officer to the Brighton Post Office to provide a better service.

We do all we can to avoid mistakes and we always try to find and remove the cause whenever a mistake is brought to notice. I have no reason to think that the Brighton Post Office is not in general giving a good service, but as part of an experiment in a number of the larger towns a postal service representative will shortly be appointed at Brighton to help with our customers' problems.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the eight-figure map reference of the view depicted near Hassocks and the approximate direction in which the artist was facing when he sought to portray the countryside for the fourpenny Sussex stamp.

The stamp in question isa composite design based on sketches which the artist had previously made at Hassocks, and the scene cannot be defined in the terms requested by the hon. and gallant Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he has taken to remedy the delays in postal delivery which have been revealed in correspondence received by him from the South London Electrical Equipment Company Limited.

I much regret these delays to letters sent at the cheaper rate. I am looking into the matter and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give fuller details of the stamps to be issued depicting British wild birds; and if there is any change in the issue date previously announced.

The designs will include the Blue Tit, Blackbird, Black-Headed Gull and the Robin, printed in a block of four stamps all of the 4d. denomination. The date of issue will now be 8th August.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to protect the badger in England and Wales.

My right hon. Friend has no such proposal in mind at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation to implement the recommendation of the Criminal Law Revision Committee in relation to the law of theft.

The Committee's Report was only published last week and my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will give details of the procedure and cost of a second application for British nationality in cases where a first application has been rejected;(2) if he will state the fee required when a person makes an application for a certificate of naturalisation; and if he will make a refund if the application is rejected or reduce the application fee if a second application is made.

The prescribed fee for naturalisation is £25, of which only £3 is payable with the application; the balance is not required unless the application is successful. The preliminary fee is a contribution towards the cost of investigation and is therefore required with each application. I am sending my hon. Friend details of the procedure

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what method he satisfies himself that an applicant for British nationality has sufficient knowledge of the English language in accordance with the British Nationality Act, 1948.

Every applicant is interviewed by a police officer, who includes in his report an assessment of the applicant's compliance with the statutory requirements, including knowledge of English. But the interviewing officer's assessment is not necessarily accepted when the case for naturalisation is considered in the Home Office, and my right hon. Friend is always ready to receive and give due weight to any supplementary evidence on this point that the applicant or his friends may wish to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to correct the anomaly whereby State compensation for victims of violence is not payable to the victims of people who are under the age of criminal responsibility or who are held to lack responsibility because of mental illness.

My right hon. Friend is considering this matter.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what will be the total cost of the Selective Employment Tax to the forestry industry; and how he will offset this extra cost.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on the question of offsetting this cost made by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary during the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill today.

asked the Minister of Land and Natural Resources what action he proposes to take to offset the increase in cost to the forestry industry as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement on the question or offsetting this cost made by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary during the debate on the Second Reading of the Finance Bill today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an assurance that the Scottish broadcasting authorities are participating in the discussions and arrangements for the transmission of television and radio programmes of the University of the Air.

There is no separate broadcasting authority for Scotland. The interests of Scotland are kept fully in mind in discussion with the B.B.C. and I.T.A.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Education and Science what progress has been made in the provision of computers for universities since the Government's acceptance of the programme recommended by the Flowers Group; and what will be the cost to public funds.

Since my statement of 21st December last on the Flowers Report approval has been given to the upgrading of the K.D.F.9 computers at the seven universities recommended by the Flowers Group and to configurations and installations for 21 other universities. These approvals include the computer for the

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total number of applications from universities for grants for research work, the total number granted in whole or in part, and the total number rejected; and in respect of those rejected, what was the number rejected as being inappropriate to the Science Research Council, the number rejected as not warranting a grant for the research proposed, and the number rejected because there are not sufficient funds available, respectively.

The total number of applications from universities and colleges for grants for research work, the total number granted in whole or in part and the total number rejected, is as follows:The Social Sciences Research Council did not become responsible for awarding grants until April, 1966.The number of applications rejected by the Science Research Council as being inappropriate to them was 15. There are no separate figures for the number rejected by the Science Research Council as not warranting a grant or because there are insufficient funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make Churchill Crowns available through the Post Office.

Yes; with effect from 1st June, Churchill Crowns will be obtainable at all Crown Post Offices besides being available at the banks. This arrangement, which will only continue for a limited period, has been made to give everyone an opportunity to obtain the Crown before production ceases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the cost to the Treasury of administering the Selective Employment Tax; and how many more staff he expects to employ.

Six people, at a cost of £1,100 a month, will be employed for a few months exclusively on the work of introducing this tax. In addition, work will have to be done by many other members of the Treasury but this will not involve any extra cost.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he expects to receive the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report on the pay of industrial civil servants.

Shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what evidence he has regarding a change over the last five years in the ratio between consultant sessions held within the National Health Service and work outside the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of private beds envisaged in the new hospital building programme; and if he will make available the breakdown of these figures for individual hospitals.

No total figure is laid down in advance. I shall decide the number for each hospital shortly before it opens.

asked the Minister of Health 1) what are the prospects of an increase in the number of machines available for kidney use in the Northern area;(2) what facilities exist in the Carlisle and Cumberland area for the treatment of chronic nephritis.

In addition to the medical services already available in the area, an intermittent dialysis centre at Rye Hill Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serves the Region as a whole. This centre is at present being increased from five to ten units and it is hoped to complete this expansion within the next three months. In addition there are three machines in use at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. Further provision for the Region is under active consideration.

Information about the work of consultants outside the National Health Service is not available but the table below gives, for the last five years, the numbers of consultants whole-time and part-time appointments in the hospital service and their whole-time equivalent.

asked the Minister of Health what steps are being taken to investigate the cause and possible cure of agoraphobia, which afflicts 100,000 citizens.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. William Wells) and the hon. Members for Norfolk, Central (Mr. Ian Gilmour) and Merton and Morden (Mr. Atkins) on 9th May.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if, in view of the fact that the routine cervical cancer screening service in Lutterworth and district operated by the Family Planning Clinic is already booked up until November, he will take immediate steps to make alternative facilities available;(2) if he will have provided for use in southern Leicestershire a mobile examination unit for the regular taking of smears as part of a routine cervical cancer screening service in that area.

Now that the hospital laboratories have sufficient staff to examine a larger number of smears, the extension of routine screening is being considered by representatives of the local health authority, the local medical committee and the hospital service. As I have already informed the hon. Member in correspondence, there is no advantage in a mobile unit.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much slum clearance has been planned in the Borough of Bedford during the next three years.

Bedford estimate that there are now only 126 unfit dwellings in the borough. They plan to clear these during the next three years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much slum clearance has taken place in the Borough of Bedford and in the County Borough of Northampton during each of the last 10 years.

Clearance of unfit dwelling has taken place in Bedford and Northampton over the last 10 years at the following rate:

asked the Minister of Labour how many men and women part-time workers there are in the pottery industry.

At mid-March 1966, there were estimated to be about 2,300 female part-time employees in employment in Great Britain in the pottery industry. Corresponding infor- mation for part-time male employees is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many vacancies there are for men and women in the pottery industry, and how many of these are for part-time workers or could be filled with part-time workers.

At 13th April, 1966, 130 notified vacancies for men and 641 for women in the pottery industry remained unfilled. The Department's industrial analysis of notified vacancies remaining unfilled does not distinguish between full-time and part-time and it is not practicable to say how many of the vacancies could be filled by part-time workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the net increase in employment in Stirlingshire and Clackmannanshire in the year 1965; and if he will list this by employment exchange areas.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the numbers of employees in employment in Scotland in 1965, by regions and by main industry sectors, in order to bring up to date Table 11 in Appendix B of Command Paper No. 2864, The Scottish Economy, 1965–70.

Following is the information for the whole of Scotland:

asked the Minister of L abour how many part-time workers there are in the distributive trade in Stoke-on-Trent.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that, of 109 firms in the Dunfermline, Cowden- beath and Inverkeithing employment exchange areas, only 39 comply with their statutory responsibilities towards the disabled; and what steps he intends to take to encourage more firms to employ the disabled.

Yes. Our officers neglect no opportunity of bringing suitable disabled persons who are avail- able for work to the notice of these firms.

asked the Minister of Labour what proportion of firms in England and Wales, respectively, do not comply with their statutory responsibilities concerning the employ- ment of disabled persons; and to what extent the position has changed in the last 10 years.

According to the latest available information 47·3 per cent of firms in England to which the provision applies are failing to meet their obligation to employ 3 per cent. of registered disabled persons; in Wales the percentage is 31·6. In 1956 the comparable figures were 26·8 and 19·2 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will arrange to have a plan of the Palace of Westminster published.

A small plan of the principal floor has been prepared for the guidance of Members. Copies are now available in the Vote Office. A complete set of plans of the building is held in the Library.